Foot operated electric bass

ABSTRACT

A floor mounted electric bass played solely by striking its strings with a player&#39;&#39;s shoe and thereby depressing its strings against its frets. The base is a stringed instrument with a neck having two transversely oriented fretted surfaces. One string, or one string unit comprising multiple strings tuned as a unit for playing in unison, is secured above each of the fretted surfaces and when not depressed is contacted by a vibration inhibiting pad. A magnetic pickup converts the string vibration to electrical signals when a string is depressed against a fret.

United States Patent 11 1 Miller [451 Sept. 11, 1973 1 1 FOOT OPERATEDELECTRIC BASS [76] Inventor: Meredith E. Miller, Box 73, R No. l,

Lockbourne, Ohio 43137 [22] Filed: May 11, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 252,284

[52] 11.8. Cl 84/l.l6, 84/D1G. 30, 84/173,

84/267, 84/293, 84/323 [51] Int. Cl. Gl0h 3/00 [58] Field of Search84/1.04, 1.14, 1.16,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,871,021 8/1932 Zachrison84/320 X 1,946,827 2/1934 Bach 84/320 3,521,516 7/1970 Gibbons 84/321 X3,525,797 8/1970 Pavia 84/1.l5 3,603,192 9/1971 Kaar 84/173 1,988,2201/1935 Siegrist 84/173 2,799,196 7/1957 Alvarez 84/1.04 2,933,967 4/1960Riscol 84/l.16 3,290,425 12/1966 Stobaugh 84/l.l6

3,320,844 5/1967 Lostimolo 84/173 3,358,543 12/1967 Musscr 84/1733,407,697 10/1968 Jackson 84/l.l6 X 3,518,353 6/1970 Appleton 84/1.153,525,283 8/1970 Pavia 84/173 3,530,227 9/1970 Wheeler et a1. 84/1 .163,561,314 2/1971 MacEachron 84/284 Primary Examiner-Richard B. WilkinsonAssistant Examiner Stanley J. Witkowski Att0rneyAnthony D. Cennamo,Frank H. Poster et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A floor mounted electric bass played solely by strikingits strings with a player's shoe and thereby depressing its stringsagainst its frets. The base is a stringed instrument with a neck havingtwo transversely oriented fretted surfaces. One string, or one stringunit comprising multiple strings tuned as a unit for playing in unison,is secured above each of the fretted surfaces and when not depressed iscontacted by a vibration inhibiting pad. A magnetic pickup converts thestring vibration to electrical signals when a string is depressedagainst a fret.

15 Claims, fi rawing Figtires Patented Sept. 11, 1973 FOOT OPERATEDELECTRIC BASS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesgenerally to a stringed musical instrument and more particularly relatesto a foot operated electric bass which allows a musician to provide hisown bass accompaniment.

A currently popular form of entertainment is provided by an artist whoboth sings and accompanies himself on a guitar or other hand playedmusical instruments. The performance of such an artist may be enhancedby adding a bass accompaniment to his vocal and guitar performance.However, such an additional bass accompaniment ordinarily requires anextra artist for playing the bass and therefore represents an additionalexpense.

Stringed bass instruments such as the electric bass guitar require useof both hands of the artist. Ordinarily, the left hand fingers thestrings above the neck to select the frets against which the strings aredepressed. The right hand is used to pluck the strings and therebyinduce the music-producing vibrations in the strings.

Various musical instruments have been proposed for playing by the feetof the artist. However, the ordinary bass guitar does not lend itself tosuch foot operation because the positioning of the strings preventsselection of specific strings by an object as blunt as a players shoe. Afew inventors have therefore suggested devices for overcoming thisproblem. One inventor shows a stringed instrument with a single string.String tension is adjusted by apparatus which is operated by the heel ofone foot of the player. Plucking is done with the front of the same footby another mechanism. Such an instrument is shown in the US. Fat. toMcKenzie No. 3,510,566. A similar, band played device is shown in US.Pat. No. 1,622,219 to Bartholomae. In US. Pat. No. 3,320,844, J.Lostimolo shows a foot operated bass having one foot operating a pedalwhich has structure for plucking and the other foot operating-a stringdepressing structure.

There is therefore a need for a simplified foot operated electric basswhich permits the note accuracy available from a fretted stringedinstrument and yet permits a simple and convenient single footoperation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is an electric bass stringedinstrument having a neck with a longitudinal fretted surface and havinga single string unit spaced from the fretted surface and tuned to beactuated as the unit. Preferably, the string unit is a single stringabove the fretted surface but may be a plurality of strings tuned to beactuated in unison. A transducer pickup means is mounted to theinstrument for converting string vibrations to electrical signals.

Advantageously, the instrument has two such longitudinal frettedsurfaces which are relatively transversely oriented, each frettedsurface having a single string unit spaced from it. Advantageously, avibration inhibiting pad is mounted in contact with the string unitmeans on the sides opposite the fretted surfaces so that the vibrationof a string will cease when it is released from a fret.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improvedstringed bass instrument.

Another object of the invention is to provide an elec tric bass stringedinstrument which can be easily played by simple movements of a singlefoot of the player.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for playing astringed instrument of the type having a fretted neck which permits theinstrument to be played by a single movement of a single hammer member.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification and claims when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings illustrating several embodiments of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of apreferred embodiment of the invention showing its protective coverremoved.

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section taken substantially along the line22 oF FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of an alternative embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section illustrating yet anotheralternative embodiment of the invention.

In describing the preferredembodiments of the invention, illustrated inthe drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake ofclarity. However, it is not intended to be limited to the specific termsso selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includesall technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner toaccomplish a similar purpose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates a guitar-like stringedinstrument which more specifically is an electric bass which has beenmodified according to the principles of the present invention. Theinstrument has a simulated sound box 10 from which a neck 12 rigidlyextends. A tuning head 14 is attached to the distal end of the neck andsupports a pair of rotatable tuning keys 15 and 17.

Bass strings l6 and 18 extend over a nut I9. They are secured at one endto adjustable anchor means 20 and 22 which are drivingly connected tothe tuning keys l5 and 17. At their opposite ends, the strings aresecured to anchor means, such as a conventional tail piece, containedwithin the enclosure 23. These anchor means at each of the strings maybe conventional prior art anchor means. A transducer pickup means 24 ismounted to the instrument appropriately on the simulated sound boxbeneath the strings l6 and 18.

Unlike conventional stringed instruments, the neck member 12 has twotransversely oriented, longitudinal, fretted surfaces 30 and 32.Preferably, these surfaces 30 and 32 intersect at an oblique angle ofEach surface is provided with a set of frets such as frets 34, 36, 38and 40. Additionally, the nut 19 must have similarly oriented notches ordepressions for properly positioning the strings l6 and 18.Advantageously, six frets are provided on each fretted surface and arespaced a distance which is twice the distance of conventional bass fretspacing. This increased spacing not only requires less accuracy in theselection of the points at which the strings are depressed by the footbut also permits an entire octave to be provided by a pair ofappropriately tuned strings.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the strings l6 and 18 are each secured inspaced relationship opposite a different one of the fretted surfaces 30and 32. Such positioning permits the depression of the strings by anobject as blunt as a shoe 42 of the player without depression of morethan the selected string.

The transducer pickup means 24 is desirably a netic type pickup and ismounted at an appropriate angle relative'to'the top of the sound box sothat it is equal distance from both strings.

A protective cover or receptacle 50 is attached to the simulated soundbox 10 to enclose and protect the transducer pickup 24 and the tailpieceanchor means and'protect them from being struck by other equipment or bypersons. This cover 50 has an opening 52 through which the strings 16and 18 extend. Attached to the protective cover 50 at the opening 52 isa vibration inhibiting pad 54. The pad 54 is mounted so that it extendsinto the opening 52 and contacts each of the string units on the side ofthe string opposite to the fretted surface. Thus, when a string isdepressed to a selected fret, it is free of the sound inhibiting pad 54.But, when the string is released, it contacts the pad 54 which halts itsvibration.

So that the stringed bass instrument of the present invention mayconveniently sit upon the floor and be comfortably played by a seatedartist, a pair of high friction resilient feet 60 and 62 are attached tothe underside of the simulated soundbox 10 and a third foot 64 isattached near the opposite end to the underside of theneck 12. Thesethree feet 60, 62 and 64 provide a tripod support which retains theinstrument to prevent tilting, tipping or sliding during a performance.

In operation, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 may becomfortably played by a seated artist with his foot 42 which is shown inphantom. Thefoot is moved longitudinally along the strings and is tiltedlaterally to select the particular string and fret to be used for eachnote. Because the strings are at different levels and oppositetransverse fretted surfaces, the operator may select and play a singlestring in this manner. The artists shoe operates as a hammer memberwhich strikes the selected string with a sufficient force to depress thestring against the selected fret. When the string is'depressed, it ismoved away from the vibration inhibiting pad 54. The movement of thestring upon the fret inducessufficient vibrations in the selected stringto sound the desired note. Vibration continues so long as the shoe holdsthe string against the fret. When the stringis released from the fretand from the shoe of the artist, it moves away from the fretted surfaceand back against the pad 54 so that its vibration is stopped as itsvibratory energy is immediately absorbed by the pad 54. The next notemay then be played.

It should benoted however, that the vibration inhibiting pad may beomitted if the performer wishes to eliminate the muffling effect. Itshould furtherbe noted that alternative mechanical hammer means such aspiano type hammers could be adapted for use with an instrument embodyingthe present invention. 7

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate alternative structures neck 70.is similar tothe neck 12 illustrated in FIG. 1. The sound box, however, may be asimple planar piece of wood because an electric guitar-doesnot need'ahollow resonance box. A yibration inhibitingpad 73 is .sup-

rnagwhich embody the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the,

chor means such as screws 80, 82, 84, and 86 are provided in the woodenboard 72. At the opposite end are a nut 79 and tuning keys such as key81. The nut 79, like the nut 17 must have obliquely positioned notchesor depressions to position the strings opposite the two transverselyoriented fretted surfaces.

Instead of a single string stretched across each fretted surface, theembodiment of FIG. 3 has a pair of strings opposite each surface toillustrate the use of multiple strings. However, to embody the presentinvention, the strings must be tuned so that they-maybe played as aunit. Thus, the shoe of a player will depress the pair of strings as anentire unit against the selected fret. Consequently, the strings must betuned in unison. Clearly, multiple strings could be used so long as allthe strings opposite each fretted surface are tuned as a unit forvibration in unison. Nonetheless, a single string above each frettedsurface is preferred although multiple strings are illustrated.

FIG. 4shows yet other alternative structure-embodying the invention. Itillustrates in .cross section a neck member 90 which isrectangularincross section rather than trapezoidal in cross section like the neckmembers illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Such a neck member, however,has frets, such as the illustrated fret 92, which have edges 94 and 96which are transversely oriented. Therefore, when such frets arelongitudinally spaced along a rectangular neck member 90, theirtransverse surfaces define a pair of transversely oriented frettedsurfaces which are equivalent to the structure illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.The embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 is played in the same manner as theembodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that I have disclosed a foot operatedelectric bass which is relatively easy and simple to play and which doesnot require complex mechanism to attain this simplicity. Furthermore,both note selection and plucking is accomplished with asingle, simple,hammer-like movement.

It is to be understood that while the detailed drawings and specificexamples given describe preferred embodiments of the invention, they arefor thepurposes of illustration only, that the apparatus of theinvention is not limited to the precise details and conditions disclosedand that various changes may be made therein without departing from thespirit of the invention which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An electric bass stringed instrument comprising:

a. a body portion including a neck having a longitudi nal, frettedsurface and string anchor means at opposite ends of said frettedsurface; b. at least one bass string unit means mounted to said anchormeans, spaced from said surface and other structure and tuned for beingexclusively actuated as a unit by a hammer means;

c. a footmounted hammer means adapted for striking exclusively theentire string unit means and depressing it against a selected fret;

d. a transducer pickup means mounted to said instrumentbody portion forconverting vibrations of said string unit means to electrical signals;and

e. a vibration inhibiting pad fixedly mounted to said body portion incontact with said string means on the side opposite said fretted surfaceand adapted to disengage a depressed string.

2. An instrument according to claim 1 wherein said string unit meanscomprises a plurality of strings tuned in unison.

3. An instrument according to claim 1 wherein said string unit meanscomprises a single string.

4. An instrument according to claim 1 wherein a second longitudinalfretted surface is provided on said neck transversely oriented to thefirst surface and having a second string unit means spaced from saidsecond surface and from said first string unit to permit exclusiveactuation of either unit by said hammer means and actuable as a unit andwherein said hammer means is strikable against either of said stringunits for depressing exclusively the entirety of the struck string unitagainst a selected fret.

5. An instrument according to claim 4 wherein said fretted surfaces areoriented at an obtuse angle.

6. An instrument according to claim 5 wherein a vibration inhibiting padis fixedly mounted to said body portion in contact with said stringmeans when said string means is undepressed on the side opposite saidfretted surface.

7. An electric bass stringed instrument comprising:

a. a body portion including a neck member having at least twotransversely oriented longitudinal fretted surfaces including aplurality of longitudinally spaced frets;

b. string anchor means mounted to said body portion at opposite ends ofsaid neck member and positioned for securing tension strings in spacedrelationship to said surfaces;

c. a pair of bass string units secured to said anchor means, each unitsecured in spaced relationship to a different one of said frettedsurfaces and sufficiently spaced from each other to permit the exclusiveactuation of either by a shoe; and

d. a transducer pickup means mounted to said instrument body forconverting vibrations of said string units to corresponding electricalsignals.

8. An instrument according to claim 7 wherein said fretted surfaces areoriented at an obtuse angle.

9. An instrument according to claim 8 wherein each of said string unitscomprises a plurality of strings tuned in unison 10. An instrumentaccording to claim 11 wherein each of said units is a single string.

11. An instrument according to claim 10 wherein a vibration inhibitingpad is fixedly mounted to said body portion in contact with each of saidstring units on the side opposite said fretted surface and adapted todisengage a depressed string means.

12. An instrument according to claim 14 wherein the frets of eachfretted surface are spaced twice the distance of conventional bass fretspacing.

13. An instrument according to claim 14 wherein three feet forming atripod are provided on the underside of the instrument for supporting iton a floor.

14. An instrument according to claim 14 wherein a protective receptacleis attached to enclose said transducer and the anchor means at one endof said neck, said receptacle having a opening through which saidstrings extend and wherein a vibration inhibiting pad is mounted to saidreceptacle in contact with each of said string units on the sideopposite said fretted surface.

15. An instrument according to claim 14 wherein said fretted surfacesare oriented at

1. An electric bass stringed instrument comprising: a. a body portionincluding a neck having a longitudinal, fretted surface and stringanchor means at opposite ends of said fretted surface; b. at least onebass string unit means mounted to said anchor means, spaced from saidsurface and other structure and tuned for being exclusively actuated asa unit by a hammer means; c. a footmounted hammer means adapted forstriking exclusively the entire string unit means and depressing itagainst a selected fret; d. a transducer pickup means mounted to saidinstrument body portion for converting vibrations of said string unitmeans to electrical signals; and e. a vibration inhibiting pad fixedlymounted to said body portion in contact with said string means on theside opposite said fretted surface and adapted to disengage a depressedstring.
 2. An instrument according to claim 1 wherein said string unitmeans comprises a plurality of strings tuned in unison.
 3. An instrumentaccording to claim 1 wherein said string unit means comprises a singlestring.
 4. An instrument according to claim 1 wherein a secondlongitudinal fretted surface is provided on said neck transverselyoriented to the first surface and having a second string unit meansspaced from said second surface and from said first string unit topermit exclusive actuation of either unit by said hammer means andactuable as a unit and wherein said hammer means is strikable againsteither of said string units for depressing exclusively the entirety ofthe struck string unit against a selected fret.
 5. An instrumentaccording to claim 4 wherein said fretted surfaces are oriented at anobtuse angle.
 6. An instrument according to claim 5 wherein a vibrationinhibiting pad is fixedly mounted to said body portion in contact withsaid string means when said string means is undepressed on the sideopposite said fretted surface.
 7. An electric bass stringed instrumentcomprising: a. a body portion including a neck member having at leasttwo transversely oriented longitudinal fretted surfaces including aplurality of longitudinally spaced frets; b. string anchor means mountedto said body portion at opposite ends of said neck member and positionedfor securing tension strings in spaced relationship to said surfaces; c.a pair of bass string units secured to said anchor means, each unitsecured in spaced relationship to a different one of said frettedsurfaces and sufficiently spaced from each other to permit the exclusiveactuation of either by a shoe; and d. a transducer pickup means mountedto said instrument body for converting vibrations of said string unitsto corresponding electrical signals.
 8. An instrument according to claim7 wherein said fretted surfaces are oriented at an obtuse angle.
 9. Aninstrument according to claim 8 wherein each of said string unitscomprises a plurality of strings tuned in unison
 10. An instrumentaccording to claim 11 wherein each of said units is a single string. 11.An instrument according to claim 10 wherein a vibration inhibiting padis fixedly mounted to said body portion in contact with each of saidstring units on the side opposite said fretted surface and adapted todisengage a depressed string means.
 12. An instrument according to claim14 wherein the frets of each fretted surface are spaced twice thedistance of conventional bass fret spacing.
 13. An instrument accordingto claim 14 wherein three feet forming a tripod are provided on theunderside of the instrument for supporting it on a floor.
 14. Aninstrument according to claim 14 wherein a protective receptacle isattached to enclose said transducer and the anchor means at one end ofsaid neck, said receptacle having a opening through which said stringsextend and wherein a vibration inhibiting pad is mounted to saidreceptacle in contact with each of said string units on the sideopposite said fretted surface.
 15. An instrument according to claim 14wherein said fretted surfaces are oriented at 135*.